Finding that particularly in tournaments, as the bonus stars keep increasing (as they must under the current system) it's impossible for newer players to ever catch up and get towards good tourney rewards. Unless they go solo, which just pushes them out of the game. I think we can agree that this isn't a game without lots of players, which necessitates letting new players join in at a competitive level (or pushing out players at the top).

Some ideas:

-reduce training/upgrade times for lower level buildings/minions

-allow in-app purchasing to the 100 DCR level with a standard set of upgrades, for a fixed price (but it may be difficult for players to adapt their offense so dramatically)

-upgrade all levels by 1, for a certain number of gems, or as an IAP, maybe just up to a certain level/DCR

-in tourneys, instead of distributing rewards proportionally based on star contribution, adjust to increase the proportion of gems awarded to lower DCR players, and/or guarantee a minimum number of gems to all participating players in guilds that win medals

-(or change the formula for tourney bonus stars to be based on minimum of stars from league and DCR, instead of both, then dramatically flatten the bonus star curves for league and DCR, but I've suggested that one before)

-have imps work faster on lower level buildings (but this doesn't help training)

-have theft limits tighten when attacking below your DCR, and raise when attacking above... e.g. can steal half as much from someone half of your DCR, capped at twice as much from someone way above you (or could use the +- rating to scale it, but basing it on trophies would encourage sandbagging, so straight DCR seems better)

Bruce Campbells Army of Darkness - an open lv 40 guild for casual players of all levels who want to develop their dungeons and get Dreadstone in tournaments

+1 EA should hire you!I like your idea of in-app purchase of DCR100 package. Old players will enjoy more competition and new player can catch up.Also EA will make some money that will keep the game alive. One stone, three birds.